Burmese refugees to be relocated – no protest warns Thai government

DVB (2003 July 14)

It is reported that there are mixed feelings among Burmese refugees on the relocation plan of the Thai government for more than 10,000 Burmese refugees of Zala Camp at Maesariang Province in northwest Thailand. The Thai government argues that the refugees are causing environmental damages to the surrounding areas and the refugees are warned to protest against the plan.
According to the Thai authorities, the reason for relocation of the refugees is to do with the fact that refugees have been hired and used by the Thai businesses in Maesariang region to extract timber illegally from protected forests and thus causing environmental damages to the area.

There was a meeting between the Thai authorities and the refugee committee members some weeks ago to discuss the matter. According to the original plan, all the refugees are to move to a new camp three miles away from the Thai-Burma border in the Supon Township within two months…

A Karen refugee gave his reactions as follows:

A Karen refugee : It would be better if we were relocated because first, we are inside a national park. Secondly, we often suffer from natural disasters and they are not good for the people. It would be better if we were moved to a better location.

But another refugee gave his reactions as follows:

A Karen refugee : No one really wants to move at the moment. Whatever it is, we have been here for a long time and quite settled down. I think they will relocate us. At the moment, we are planning to move. But we are not sure about the exact programme yet. I haven’t been to the new place. The security situation there is not good either.

The proposal for relocation was said to be introduced by the deputy prime minister of Thailand and it was agreed to by the Thai parliament recently.

Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 14 Jul 03